premise

1 of 2

noun

prem·​ise ˈpre-məs 

variants or less commonly premiss

1

a

: a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference

specifically : either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn

b

: something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition

2

premises also premisses plural : matters previously stated

specifically : the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity

3

premises also premisses plural [from its being identified in the premises of the deed]

a

: a tract of land with the buildings thereon

b

: a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (such as grounds)

premise

2 of 2

verb

pre·​mise ˈpre-məs 

 also  pri-ˈmīz

premised; premising

transitive verb

1

a

: to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate

b

: to offer as a premise in an argument

2

: postulate

3

: to base on certain assumptions

Synonyms

Noun

• assumption
• given
• hypothetical
• if
• postulate
• presumption
• presupposition
• supposition

Verb

• assume
• hypothecate
• hypothesize
• postulate
• presume
• presuppose
• say
• suppose

Examples of premise in a Sentence

Noun

Called behavioral ecology, it starts from the premise that social and environmental forces select for various behaviors that optimize people's fitness in a given environment. Different environment, different behaviors—and different human "natures." —Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009

Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994

Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992

They were asked to leave the premises.

The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.

The premises were searched by the police.

He disagreed with her premise.

the basic premises of the argument

a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down

Verb

Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was. —Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007

Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006

let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is a wisp of a premise — aside from her muted graffiti efforts, our protagonist’s grief manifests itself more as general moodiness than anything particularly tangible. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Part of the premise was to see what other people think of this, and each event is different. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The class action litigation from a decade ago concerning concussions in the NFL was premised in large part on the accusations that the NFL had intentionally or negligently concealed the risks of head injuries. —Chris Deubert, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Susan Faludi’s 1991 book, Backlash: The Undeclared War Against America’s Women, was premised on the fallacy, expressed repeatedly in the American media of the time, that feminism’s fights had by that point been, essentially, won. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing premise

• major premise
• minor premise

Kids Definition

premise

1 of 2 noun

prem·​ise ˈprem-əs 

1

: a statement taken to be true and used as a basis for argument or reasoning

2

plural

a

: a piece of land with the buildings on it

b

: a building or part of a building usually with its grounds

premise

2 of 2 verb

pre·​mise ˈprem-əs 

pri-ˈmīz

premised; premising

: to base on certain assumptions

a conclusion premised on stereotypes